FISHES CLUPEIDAE MELETTA COERULEA. 



331 



six. The body, as just stated, tapers away backwards from the insertion of the ventrals and the 

 dorsal ; in advance of these fins to the occiput, its depth is sensibly the same, whilst the head 

 again gradually tapers away towards the snout, and constitutes more than the fifth of the entire 

 length, since it enters four times in it from the snout to the last scales near the insertion of the 

 caudal fin. The posterior extremity of the maxillary reaches a vertical line which would inter 

 sect the middle of the eye. The posterior edge of the opercular apparatus forms a uniform and 

 rather flattened curve. The inferior branch of the preopercle exhibits small radiating stria ; 

 more conspicuous stria are observed upon the inferior and inner half of the opercle. The ante 

 rior margin of the dorsal fin is nearer the snout than the base of the caudal ; it is as high as 

 the fin is long, diminishing very rapidly in height ; its upper edge being depressed or, better, 

 concave. The anal is quite low ; its base entering about ten times in the total length ; its 

 anterior margin being nearer the fork of the caudal than the origin of the ventrals, and propor 

 tionally deeper, compared to its posterior portion, than expressed upon the accompanying figure. 

 The caudal fin is deeply furcated. The insertion of the ventrals takes place under the posterior 

 third of the base of the dorsal ; their posterior margin being subtruncated and quite broad 

 when expanded. The pectorals are of moderate development, very broad when expanded, and 

 sub-falciform upon their posterior margin. 



D 3, 15 + 1 ; A 16 + 1 ; C 4, 1, 8, 8, 1, 4 ; V 8 ; P 18. 



The scales are very large, sub-orbicular, or sub-angular, deeper than long, with sub-transverse 

 and irregular furrow anteriorly, and very short radiating ones at the posterior margin, which 

 is finely scalloped, and not pectinated as the aspect of the figures might lead to believe. 



The back, upper part of the head, and half of the sides are deep bluish black. The sides of 

 the head and the lower half of the flanks are yellowish or whitish, with a metallic reflect. The 

 fins are greyish or dull yellowish. 



References to the figures. Plate LXXY^ fig. 5., represents Meletta coerulea, from San Francisco, 

 Cal., somewhat reduced in size. Fig. 6 is a scale from the dorsal region. Fig. 7, a scale from 

 the abdominal region. As already stated, the last two figures give a very imperfect idea of 

 the outline and structure of the scales. 



List of specimens. 



